Chris Morton

Paradox #3 Chris Morton

I raised the pistol at my dead friend's double. It was blocking our path. I'd blow its head off too - then I thought of the paradox that might have created.

Paradoxes, I was losing count.

"You ... killed me?" it blurted.

"Move aside or you die again."

Motionless, it reminded me of the complications that would cause. Kill it now, blow its head off, and how could I then do the same in the future I'd run from?

Staring at its headless double, the android remained still.

"Mr Sun, what will happen to you?"

"Already has," I sneered. "I'm a time bomb you don't want to mess with."

"That," the android replied, "is clearly obvious to us all."